Genome-Wide Identification of Caffeic Acid O-Methyltransferase Gene Family in Medicago truncatula: MtCOMT13 -Mediated Salt and Drought Tolerance Enhancement

Kailun Cui, Yanzhen Lv, Zhao Zhang, Qingying Sun, Xingjie Yao and Huifang Yan ()
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Kailun Cui: College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
Yanzhen Lv: College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
Zhao Zhang: College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
Qingying Sun: College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
Xingjie Yao: College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
Huifang Yan: College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-27

Abstract: Legumes are important grains and forages, providing high-quality proteins, vitamins, and micronutrients to humans and animals. Medicago truncatula is a close relative of alfalfa ( Medicago sativa ). Caffeic acid O-methyltransferase ( COMT ), a key gene that is identified to be essential for melatonin synthesis, plays a significant role in plant growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. However, a systematic study on the COMT gene family in M. truncatula has still not been reported. In this study, 63 MtCOMT genes were identified and categorized into three groups. Gene structure and conserved motif analyses revealed the relative conservation of closely clustered MtCOMTs within each group. Duplicated events in MtCOMT members were identified, and segmental duplication was the main mean. Cis -acting element prediction revealed the involvement of MtCOMTs in growth and development and response to light, stress, and plant hormones. RNA-seq data analysis showed that 57 MtCOMTs varied under salt and drought stresses. The RT-qPCR expression patterns showed that MtCOMT9 , MtCOMT13 , MtCOMT22 , MtCOMT24 , MtCOMT43 , and MtCOMT46 were related to salt and drought responses in M. truncatula . Additionally, Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing MtCOMT13 displayed superior plant growth phenotypes and enhanced tolerance to salt and drought stresses through higher photosynthetic parameters and activities of antioxidant enzymes, which indicated that MtCOMT13 played an important role in positively regulating plant salt and drought tolerance. These findings contribute to an improved understanding of MtCOMTs ’ roles in abiotic stress responses in M. truncatula , providing an important theoretical basis and genetic resource for legume species resistance breeding in the future.

Keywords: Medicago truncatula; caffeic acid O-methyltransferase; gene family; salt stress; drought stress; expression pattern (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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